Guitarist Joel Shapira is an internationally acclaimed musician residing in St. Paul / Minneapolis MN. He's a leader and/or member of multiple top Twin Cities' jazz ensembles, as well as a master of the demandingdiscipline of solo guitar. He performs regularly with world class musicians, has numerous recordings to his credit, and is an artist featured on the NYC record label Unseen Rain Records.

"So Many Roads" is my new duo release on Unseen Rain Records. I consider it some of the finest recorded playing I've done, and guitar virtuoso Jack DeSalvo is in prime form. It's on Bandcamp.com and I'll have hard copy CD's in a couple weeks for mail order. It has a striking cover photo, which is well-suited to the music on the recording.

In 2017, with the release of his first solo guitar recording "In Essence", Shapira has received glowing accolades from critics in Vintage Guitar magazine, The Jazz Police, The Villager newspaper, Jazz writer Andrea Canter, as well as from listeners and fans. KBEM Jazz/88.5FM in the Twin Cities, has given the recording extensive airplay since it's release in early June. For info and sound samples check here.

Other current projects include: Intermodulating Undercurrents: The Music of Bill Evans and Jim Hall, , Jazz Qt. Bottomless Pit, Charmin and Shapira jazz guitar/vocal Duo, with international vocalist Charmin Michelle, Vic Volare Quintet for twenty years running, The Nooners Bluegrass duo with banjo player Pete Hennig, Trio 280, a jazz organ trio featuring original music, Lowertown Trio, a jazz, funk, rock trio with vocals and percussion, a regular church Duo with piano every Sunday at Andrew Riverside Church Mpls, The Joel Shapira Qt., with its release "Open Lines" in 2011, and a multitude of other sideman gigs and solo guitar gigs, including solo guitar every Tuesday 4-7pm at MSP international airport, and for over two years the dinner show twice monthly at Vieux Carre on Thursday’s at 6pm.

CONTACT: e-mail joelshapira@msn.com / text: 651-235-1829

CURRENT EVENTS: Check out my recent interview with pianist Larry McDonough on KBEM 88.5FM. It talks about our Bill Evans/Jim Hall project: "Intermodulating Undercurrents". There's four tunes we performed as part of KBEM's 'Live from Studio 1' jazz series. Copy and paste link below.

Look for this duo around town. It's some of the most inspiring music I've ever performed.

UPCOMING SHOWS

JAZZ

I am first and foremost a jazz guitarist. I've dedictaed my life to the jazz art form, and it is what I'm best known for in my professional and public musical career. I have a wide spectrum of musicians in the Twin Cities, as well as NYC and NJ with whom I collaborate and record. I've been fortunate enough to cross paths with many world class musicians. I've studied with some legendary guitarists including (the late) jazz legends Joe Pass and Tal Farlow. I studied guitar, harmony and composition extensively with the great NYC jazz guitarist Jack DeSalvo, as well as attended the Mannes School of music whilst living in New York City for over six years
CONTACT INFO: e-mail joelshapira@msn.com / text: 651-235-1829

CHARMIN & SHAPIRA

"Butterfly Wings" is our new jazz vocal/guitar duo recording. I feel it's our best work to date! Available May 1st, email joelshapira@msn.com to reserve a copy.
BOOK CHARMIN and SHAPIRA: Performing for twenty two and running, guitarist Joel Shapira and vocalist Charmin Michelle have what may be considered the most formidable jazz duo in MN. Charmin and Shapira. The duo is available for all venues, private events, corporate events and more. Add the great
sidemen of Paul Harper (sax, flute), Tom Lewis (bass), and Nathan Norman (drums), makes it a jazz ensemble of the highest order. Dozens of performances at the Dakota jazz club in Minneapolis, Vieux Carre St. Paul, Orchestra Hall, Bloomington Black Box theater, and countless other locations. Please inquire for prices and availability.
E-mail - www.joelshapira@msn.com with all inquiries.

WEDDINGS

Joel has over 25 years experience performing at weddings and private events at all major indoor and outdoor venues. Check out Joel's classical and jazz, song lists, and please contact for prices and availability.
e-mail: joelshapira@msn.com / text: 651-235-1829. I've done over 500 wedding ceremonies. If you're interested in hiring me for solo guitar, prices start at $300.00. I perform jazz tunes, standards, Jewish music, classical music, the Beatles, and 'some' pop tunes. You can also book a duo with another instrument: (flute, piano, saxophone, violin, vocalist). Jazz ensembles are also available for ALL events. I perform with a large circle of the best musicians in the Twin Cities and for years have done wedding receptions, corporate events, private parties, all event types.

LESSONS

For over 25 years Joel Shapira has taught guitar extensively. He currently teaches in St. Paul at Cadenza
Music. For lesson inquiries please e-mail. I occasionally have openings; adults and jazz or classical
students are preferred. Lessons are $35.00/half hour.